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Spatial/summary data for UK SACs, SCIs and cSACs

Spreadsheet of UK SAC information

Summary data for all designated and candidate SACs in the UK is included in a Microsoft Excel  spreadsheet, which enables users of Excel to carry out a number of analyses of the SAC list. By using Excel's AutoFilter function (Data > Filter > AutoFilter), it is possible, for example, to list all SACs supporting any Habitats Directive marine features, or, by using the Custom AutoFilter function, to carry out multiple queries such as identifying all SACs in Scotland that support both otter and salmon at global grade A or B. The columns can also be sorted in a variety of ways (Data > Sort) - for example alphabetically by SAC name, by feature name, or by SAC area.
 
The columns are coloured to aid navigation, and an explanatory note is provided for most columns - to read this, hover your mouse cursor over the column heading. Further information about Microsoft Excel is available from Microsoft. The spreadsheet has been compressed into a ZIP archive to reduce download size - you will need compression software such WInZip or StuffIt to expand the file.
 
Download SAC summary data spreadsheet (ZIP format, 1.5 Mb)

Current version is 14 December 2009, filename UK_SAC_data_20091215.zip
Review changes in this dataset.
 
The spreadsheet contains a number of worksheets:
 
  • 'SAC feature data' contains a full listing of all Habitats Directive features occurring on SACs in the UK. This includes non-qualifying ('D-grade') features that are not a reason for SAC selection at a particular site. Note that a feature may not occur on all parts of a site, especially in the case of large SACs.
  • 'SAC site data' contains summary information about the SACs themselves, including their size, location and date of designation.
  • 'SAC maps' offers a simple mapping facility. If a particular feature or site is selected in the above worksheets using the Autofilter function, a dot map will be displayed showing the location of the site(s).
  • 'SAC habitat classes' indicates the percentage of each SAC comprised of certain broad habitat types. These are intended to give a general impression of the character of the SAC. They should not be confused with the Annex I habitats, which are listed in the SAC feature data worksheet.
  • 'SAC physical characteristics' contains information on landscape, geomorphology, geology and soils. It is intended to give a general impression of the physical character of the SAC, and is not a detailed description. Note that some characteristics listed may form only a minor component of the site.

 

Note that the spreadsheet file size is approximately 1.4 Mb in ZIP compressed format. The spreadsheet is updated after any new SAC information is submitted to the EC, so if you have previously saved it to your own disk, please check that you are still using the latest version.
 
Several columns of subsidiary data for Annex I habitats and Annex II species are not contained in the spreadsheet. These columns are seldom required and are omitted to prevent the spreadsheet becoming unwieldy; however, a fuller version of the spreadsheet including these columns can be e-mailed on request. Please  if you require this information.
 
In conjunction with the download of this spreadsheet, a GIS shape file is also available to download.